Durbin, Duckworth Announce More than $7 Million in FEMA Reimbursement Funding for Illinois COVID-19 Response

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) today announced that Illinois has been awarded a total of $71.9 million in federal grant funding to offset costs related to COVID-19 testing and response. The funding, provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), covers the costs of the collection of COVID-19 tests, equipment rentals, and supplies procured by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) from January 20, 2020 through August 31, 2020.

'This federal funding will help address the costs that have gone into the monumental task of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, including providing reliable testing throughout Illinois,' Durbin said. 'Robust COVID-19 testing saves lives, and I'm pleased Illinois is receiving support for this critical emergency response.'

'For the past year, our state has been working tirelessly to help save lives and keep Illinoisans healthy-and that includes vigorous and expensive COVID-19 testing capabilities,' Duckworth said. 'Today's federal reimbursement funding will go a long way in supporting our state's robust testing program so we can get to the other side of this public health crisis.'

-30-